never been happy with my lumenbrights

G

giants4pc

New member
I got 2 of the minis with 12k reeflux 250 watt bulbs to replace standard 175's with parabolic reflectors over my 90. It's powered by individual coralvue e ballasts. Yah, they were brighter than what I had, but I wasn't impressed with the color. I didn't use actinics and thought that was the problem all along. I swapped out the 12k's for the 20k's. There was absolutely no difference between the bulbs and I have had it "burned" in now for over near two months. Still not happy, I added 2 110 watt super actinic vho's driven by an icecap 660. When they are fired alone, the tank is blue, when the halides come on, back to white.

The long and short is, I'm not getting the clean, crisp look that I see from so many other tanks with other "inferior" lighting systems, whether it be T5 or MH. I know water parameters have a lot to do with it, but my parameters are spot on. I've been regretting the purchase ever since and wish I had gone with something different. I don't know what I'm trying to accomplish with this thread, just venting a bit. Maybe someone else has the same experience...
 
Give ushio BLV or aqualine AB 20K's a try. Outstanding color, same bulb from what I know, definitely the same 150w bulbs as I have had them side by side. Here is a tank shot of mine, the locals could attest that the color is spot on / even more vivid in person. Very pleasing to the eye.

You will NOT need actinic with them. Also, I run coralvue ballasts so that would be the same as yours. Not sure if yours are de or se though...

CLOSEANGLE.jpg
 
PFO pendants. The Pendant should not change the color of the bulbs unless you forgot to take the plastic coating off them and it cooked :D
 
I can't take a picture to save my life. Here is the best I have. I was thinking of removing the two reflectors from inside my canopy and getting a 4 bulb icecap T5 wired retro. I currently have an icecap 660 ballast powering the two VHO bulbs. How would VHO bulbs on the outside and 4 T5 bulbs be in the inside? Sounds crazy that I am even contemplating this:
DSC03492.jpg

DSC03495.jpg
 
I agree that the reflectors shouldn't change the color of your bulbs. However I have seen tanks where people are using different colored bulbs in different reflectors, and instead of getting the blending of the colors their tanks have zones of different color.
 
Giant - that lighting doesnt look bad to me. Please don't take this the wrong way, but have you considered that maybe its your coral selection? In Garage's pics he has blues, purples, red, pink, green. You have mostly brown and green. Corals look healthy but not real colorful.
 
Hard to tell with those photos, the blue background throws things off a bit visually. But overall the color looks decent from the bulbs. How is your tank chemistry? A lot of the corals look a little browned out, but could just be the photo.
 
I appreciate all the suggestions - all valid. I just checked my parameters last night with salifert and all were within ranges. My levels are always as follows:
calcium 420
alk - 7.6
mag 1300

Agreed that my corals are browned out a bit. Truthfully, I think that's just the color of them because I do have a green acro that is bright green, a bright red monti cap, and several colorful zoos. I know I need brighter colored sps; however, I was thinking about the overall crispness of the clarity. It just doesn't POP to me. I once had a black background but that didn't seem natural to me and it didn't help. Add that to the fact that I can't take a pic and maybe that's what it appears to be. But, in so many pics, the tank just seems to glow - clearly not the case with me.
 
Try not to judge your tank against pictures of other tanks, so much can be done with photography and photoshop. Just using the right white balance can make all the difference.
 
I meant camera. Nevermind photos though...even in person, the clarity and brightness I've seen from lesser lighting systems is astounding.
 
Well, your tank looks good I think as far as health. It is a bit white for me though. Maybe try a 14K or even 20K bulb. It looks like you are getting pretty good growth, so I wouldn't be worried about loosing much if you switch. Many people like the 14K Phoenix bulb, have you thought of that? It is more like a 20K bulb but I like it. Or maybe 20K Radium's people always say how nice they are.

If it were me I would probably get a 20K bulb. Maybe the ushio BLV or aqualine AB 20K's recommended above.
 
plus 1 on the phoenix or the radium. both of these should help with ascetics. I think you're tank looks good, though personally i don't like the blue background, it throws off the colors of the corals and makes it hard to get a good picture. I think t5s are a good option as well. I have 6 t5s on my 112 and the color is very good.

not a bad idea with 4 t5s and 2 vhos to supplement. for that I would definitely do 2 aqua blues, figi purple, blue plus and then the super actinics on each side. maybe overdriving the 2 aqua blues so you can get better par for your sps. this should give a nice glow. you can always ask the grim reefer in the t5 forum though, he knows a lot about combos for setups.
 
But I currently have 20k Reeflux bulbs in the SE version. Take that, with 2 110 watt superactinic VHO's and it's still the look I get. Why isn't it blue?
 
Do you know anyone else with 20k bulbs that you could borrow a bulb for a day or two? Have you thought about the possibility that the bulbs were mislabeled to the wrong color spectrum?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15043933#post15043933 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by giants4pc
But I currently have 20k Reeflux bulbs in the SE version. Take that, with 2 110 watt superactinic VHO's and it's still the look I get. Why isn't it blue?
Click to expand...

If you want to change lighting to T5, then that is an option. But the reflector/pendant itself isnt the variable that is keeping you from getting the blue look you want. All it does is reflect the light given off by the lamp. Different reflectors are designed differently in terms of how they spread the light, reduce hot spot, etc. but they dont change the color of the light.

One comment I have on Reeflux bulbs ... I havent used the 20K but they arent consistent between wattage and K and lamp type. In other words, for example, I use the 12K DE 250 watt and the 12K 175 watt and the 175 watt versions are far bluer than the DE 250 watt versions. Ive had other color consistency issues between two of the same bulbs as well. So when you say that the 12K and 20K look the same to you, it doesnt surprise me one bit despite the fact that I havent used those particular lamps. Even if someone chimed in and said that he/she has used both those lamps and they were different, it still wouldnt surprise me that you see no difference.
But if you havent already, I would side by side a 12K and 20K and make sure there isnt any difference in the tank.

Again, if you really want to get rid of halide and do T5, then by all means go for it. It's easier to adjust color for sure with all the bulb color options. But it isnt the pendants shifting the color away from blue. If what you really want is a very blue halide, try the Helios 20K. They have a 250 watt SE version. Par isnt bad either for as blue as they are. The Ushio is a great bulb but it isnt among the bluest of the 20K's.

Also, judging by the color of the substrate in your pics, it looks to me like you have a good amount of blue going on. But it's near impossible to truly represent a tanks color through pics on the internet. Mine looks different on every monitor we have and none of them look like exactly like the tank actually does, lighting color wise, no matter how much I play with the white level and other settings on the digital camera.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15043933#post15043933 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by giants4pc
But I currently have 20k Reeflux bulbs in the SE version. Take that, with 2 110 watt superactinic VHO's and it's still the look I get. Why isn't it blue?
Click to expand...

Try a new brand. ;) there are more problems with reflux bulbs than I am comfortable with.
 
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